Advertising panel



P 1959 R. P. CALLISON 2,901,849

ADVERTISING PANEL 3 SheetS- Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1956 m INVENTOR.

Sept. 1, 1959 R. P. cALusoN ADVERTISING PANEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug. 9. 1956 United States Patent Ofilice 2,901,849 Patented Sept. 1,1959} ADVERTISING PANEL Richard P. Callison, Kansas City, Mo., assignorto Butler Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Application August 9, 1956, Serial No. 603,092

6 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) The present invention relates in general tooutdoor signs, and it deals more particularly with the construction oflarge signboards of the type used along the roadside for advertising ordisplay purposes.

The object of the invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a signboardmade of prefabricated components which can be assembled speedily andeasily at the desired site whereby erection of the sign can be effectedwith little time and labor and the cost of installation thus reduced. Inthis connection, an important feature of the invention resides in theprovision of a sign assembly wherein the panel components can beassembled with the frame working from the front side of the sign only.This has particular advantage where signs are placed back to back, ormounted on the wall of a building.

Another object is to provide a signboard which after erection can bedismantled or disassembled with equal ease and speed and without damageto the components whereby the parts can be reused successively atdifferent locations in the event the initial site is abandoned for anyreason.

A further object is to provide a signboard of the foregoing characterwhich is neat and attractive in appearance, which is sturdy and ruggedin construction, which is not subject to weathering and requires littlemaintenance, and whose components are economically manufactured.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a signboard Whosedisplay area is composed of a plurality of separate panel sectionsdisposed edge to edge in such positively registering relation that thedisplay matter or advertising may be imposed on the panels beforeerection of the sign with assurance that when the panels thereafter areassembled at the site there will be no mismatching of the displaymaterial at the meeting lines of adjacent panels. In the case of paintedsigns, for example, this makes it unnecessary for the sign artists towork on open outdoor scaffolding at the site where conditions are notfavorable to rapid work and their painting is subject to interruptiondue to unfavorable weather; instead, they can prepaint the individualpanels at a central headquarters, protected from the weather and underideal Working conditions, leaving for less skilled artisans the simpletask of assembling the panels at the desired site.

An additional object is to provide a signboard structure upon whichposters may be pasted, the display area being framed by an attractivemolding or border trim so arranged as to avoid the possibility of itsbeing disfigured as the result of paste being smeared or allowed to dripthereon.

A feature of the invention resides in the use of panels supported onhorizontal stringers which are easily mounted on posts or other verticalsupports regardless of the lateral spacing of these posts or supports.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a sign assembly inwhich the points of support for the panels can be increased with easeand facility to any desirable member to allow for increased wind loadson the panel face.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign assembly made up ofa plurality of individual vertical panels, each panel having a pluralityof horizontal panel stifieners readily engageable and disengageabletherewith to aid in the shape retention and strengthening of the paneland extremely simple yet strong and positive acting mounting meanscooperating between the horizontal panel stiffeners and horizontalstringers also of simple construction, the latter being readilymountable on posts or other vertical supports.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sign assembly madeup of a plurality of individual Vertical panels, said panels mountableon horizontal stringers of simple construction supported by posts orother vertical supports, exceedingly simple and easily applied meansbeing provided for mounting on the ends of the horizontal stringers andthe ends of the panels for positioning trim around the periphery of saidpanel.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and areto be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention isshown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicatelike parts.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a signboard structure or advertisingpanel embodying the invention, parts being cut away and broken away forpurposes of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of a portion of the signboardstructure or advertising panel of Fig. l, portions thereof having beenbroken away for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken along the lines 33 ofFig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan sectional elevation taken 1 along the lines4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the 7 number of such support posts 10depends upon the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a limited enlarged vertical cross section taken along thelines 55 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan vertical cross section taken through one ofthe vertical supporting posts of the advertising panel of Fig. 1, theview being taken from immediately above the intersection of one of thehorizontal supporting stringers with the vertical supporting post butwith the individual vertical advertising panel supported relativethereto having been removed from the horizontal stringer to bestillustrate the interacting construction of the vertical post andhorizontal stringer.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rear face of one of the individualvertical panels making up the front face of the assembled advertisingpanel of Fig. 1, a plurality of horizontal panel stitfeners being shownmounted on said rear face of said individual vertical panel, one of saidhorizontal stiifeners being disengaged at one side of the panel to showthe engaging means thereon for union with the rear parts of theindividual vertical panel itself.

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of an engaging clip for mounting onthe tops and bottoms of pairs of the vertical panels similar to thatshown in Fig. 7 for the purpose of supporting the trim tabs receivingthe peripheral trim for the total advertising panel of Fig. l thereon.

Referring to the drawings, the inventive advertising panel comprises aplurality of essentially vertical support posts 10, which may be of woodor metal or any suitable material but are preferably steel beamsH-shaped in cross section as best seen in Fig. 6. Support post 10 hasfront face 10a and rear face 10b. The height of the posts 10 dependsupon the total height of the sign and the desired width of the signitselfv and how muchwind load, sign weight, etc., is to be carried. Aplurality of means for mounting horizontal stringers on the front sideof said; support posts ,are. provided comp ising shelves 11, L-shaped incross section, having holes i11 =;-th.e-. lower flanges 12.-thereof toreceivebolts 13-which;-engage rear locking-flanges 14', also la -shap dincrosssection; which. abut the rear faces b of the vertical support.posts 10. Nuts-13a on bolts 13-serve topermit tightening oifzsaidv boltsso as to frictionally engage. the flanged plates. 12' and 14withthefront andrear sides of the support posts lo against-verticalmotion thereon. .Shelf; 1-1 has.;slots. 11a (Fig. 6). formed in. theupper. outwardly-extendingportion 11 thereof. It is-obvious that thebolt 13 engaged flange plate 12 and 14 assemblies maybe; adjustedupwardly or-downwardly. on the vertical support posts 10 as desired.

A plurality of essentially. horizontal stringers 15 comprising beamsL,-shaped in cross section are mountable on the shelves 11 by bolts 16and nuts 17 which engage onev arm of the L.-shaped stringer beams toprovide free edgelSa of the stringers projecting upwardly opposite thefront side of .said. supporting posts 10. The horizontallength of the.stringers 15 ispreferably slightly greater than the total width of theplurality of vertical panel sections which are to be mounted on thestringers.

A plurality of vertical panels 18 (Fig. 7) are provided the panelsbeingmountable on the free edges 15a of said stringers 15 opposite the frontfaces 10a of said support posts 10. These vertical panels are preferablyof a length greater than the distance between the uppermost andlowermost stringers 15. The number of stringersemployed in aninstallation depends largely-upon the height of the panels employed inthe total advertising panel system.. In the modification shown in thefigures, three horizontal stringers 15 are employed. The construction ofthe individual vertical panels is best seen in Fig. 7. Each of saidpanels comprises a vertically elongated-front sheet 18a each having apair ofrearwardly extending flanges 19 and 19aalong the oppositelongitudinal edges thereof, both of said flanges having inturned lips 20and 20a along the rearmost-edges. thereof. Preferably the front sheetsare continuous with the flanges but, if desired, the flanges and a tabmay be separately formed and 'stapledor otherwise attached to frontpanels of varied materials to meet varied sign adhesion problems. Eachflange 19 or 19a preferably has atleast one longitudinally extendingconcave-convex corrugation forming an outwardly extending or'projecting'rib- 22 at one edge of the panel and a complementary groove 21 at theopposite edge or flange of the panel, the complementary rib and grooveconstruction in'a plurality of panels providing means for'interlockingadjustment panels in a common plane when they are positioned side byside.

Thecorrespondingribs and grooves 22 and 2-1 are preferably formed midwaybetween thepanel face 18- and rear lips 20 and 20a.- It should. be notedthat the corrugations 21 and 22 are relatively deep when compared withthe width of the flanges 19 and 19a, taking on the form of a U havingparallel legs. By providing this type of construction, the interlockingof adjacent panels in av common plane is insured even though the panelsmay not, for some reason, closely abut one another. In other words,should the panels become slightly separated one from another, the panelswill still remain locked together in a common plane by virtue of thedeep corrugations and no play between the two in a direction normal tothe faces thereof will be permitted.

Still referring primarily to Fig. 7, a plurality of essentiallyhorizontal panel stiffeners 23 may be mounted on the rear of faces 18 ofthe vertical panels adjacent said stringers 15. Means are provided onsaid panel stifieners removably engageable with, at least a portion ofsaid stringers 15 for removably mounting said panels 18' on the freeedges 15a of the stringers opposite front faces 10a of thesupportingposts 10. .The panel stitfeners 23 preferably comprise formed metallicsheets essentially U-shaped in cross section, the closed face 23a of theU or bottom thereof being positioned opposite the panel sheet 18a. Theedges 23b of the U-shaped sheet which are free and positioned next tothe rear face of the panel sheet 18a itself are preferably outwardlyturned as shown to form a basev for the panel stiifeners. The panelstiffeners are of a length, when positioned at right angles to theflanges 19 and 19a to extend flange to flange on the backs of the panels18 and of a thickness to just fit under the inturned lips 20 and 20a.Grooves 24 are cut into the-edge face of the panel stiffeners 23 toengage the grooves 21 in the flanges 19. Means are provided cooperatingbetween the inturned lips 20 and 20a and the outer faces 23a of thepanel stifieners 23 to engage the latter with the lips 20 and 20a tohold the panel stiffenersfast against vertical .motion relative thepanel sheet 18a'yet-permit. easy and convenient engagement anddisengagement of the panel stiffeners 22: with the vertical panels 18.Such. meanscomprise mating grooves 25 and 26 formed respectively in theinturned lips 2t and 26a and outerfaces 23a of the panel stiifeners 23;Fig. 7 also shows the method ofinsertion of the panel stiffeners underthe inturned lips 20xand 20a. The panel stii'feners, which; have aheightor thickness from the outwardly turned. edges 23b to the upper face 23athereof essentially equal to. the distance from the rear face of thepanel sheet 13a to: the underside ofthe lips 26 and 25a is engaged,preferably at the free edge opposite the outwardly ribbed, (22) flange19a with the groove 25 in the inwardly turned lip. 20a. The oppositeedge of the panel stiffener 23 having groove 24 therein to engage theinwardly extending trough 21 in the opposite flange 19, is then pivoted.around this engagement point and, as the groove 26 in the top surface23a of the panel stiffener approaches the groove 25 in the inturned lip29, the groove 24 in the edge of the panel stiffener engages the flangetrough 21 and guides the panel stiffener into place, a sharp blow orquickpressure forcing the bottom of the groove 25 over the top face 23aof the panel stiffener into place.

Means are provided positioned relative the rear closed faces 23a of saidpanel stiifeners 23 removably engageable with at least a portion of saidstringers 15 for removably mounting said panel stiifeners 23 and, thus,the vertical panels 18 on the free edge 15a of the stringers oppositethe support posts 10. Such mounting means comprise downwardly extendingflanges 27 having angled top faces 28 fixed to the top surface (asmounted on the verticalpanels) of the panel stiffeners 23 and spacedoutwardly from the rear face 23a of the stiffeners and the inturned lips20 and 20a of the vertical panel, said flanges 27 engageable with theupwardly extending front edges 15a of the horizontal stringers 15. Saidflanges 27 preferably have outwardly angled lower edges 27a to aid inthe positioning of the flanges 27 over the front edges of the stringers15. The distance between the main portion of the flange 27' and theouter surfaces of the inwardly turned lips 20 and 20a on the rear facesof the panel sheets 18a is preferably essentially equal to the thicknessof the upwardly extending edges 15a of the horizontal stilfenersv 15.This relationship is best seen in Fig. 5.

As previously mentioned, the length of the horizontal stringers 15 ispreferably slightly greater than the width of the total number of.vertical panels 18 which are intended to be employed in the advertisingpanel. Thus the horizontal stringers extend slightly beyond the verticalpanels. when mounted on the stringers as is best seen in Fig. 4. .Meansare provided engageable with the outside ends of .said horizontalstringers 15 to secure said panels against horizontal motion and alsoprovide means for mounting the vertical portions of the trim relativesaid panels As is best seen in Fig. 4, the side trim clip comprises incross section a doubly angled member having arear face 29 with a bolthole or slot 30 therein engageable by bolt 31 which also penetrates bothhole 32 in the front edge of the horizontal stringer 15. The rear face29 of the mounting clip is preferably equal in length to the distancefrom the outer edge of the horizontal stringer to the outer face of theflange 19 or rib 22 of vertical panels 18 less the thickness of theintermediate portion 33 of the mounting clip which, itself, has a lengthgreater than the thickness of the vertical panel 18 so as to extendoutwardly past the front thereof. The forward portion 34'of the mountingclip is bent essentially at right angles to the intermediate portion 33thereof and partially overlies the front face of one of the end verticalpanels. Bolt hole 35 is formed therein. The side trim bracket itselfcomprises a front flat portion 36 having bolt hole or slot 37 thereinfor bolt 38 to engage with bolt holes 35 in the side trim clip and arearwardly extending outer portion 39 and an outwardly angled innerportion 40 with an inmost portion 41 formed at right angles to the faceof the vertical panels themselves. The side trim itself preferablycomprises an essentially flat sheet portion 42 having, in cross section,a rearwardly angled outermost portion 43 engageable by bolt or rivet 44with the rearwardly angled portion 39 of the side trim bracket and aninner triangular portion 45 having at the inmost end thereof engagingpor tion 46 engageable with engaging portion 41 of the trim bracket bybolt or rivet 47. The bolt hole 37 in the main portion 36 of the trimbracket is preferably slotted to present opportunity for laterallydisplacing the trim as desired relative the vertical panels 18themselves to increase or cut down as desired the amount of edge surfaceof the outermost vertical panels covered or uncovered by the trim.

Figs. 2, 3 and 8 show the construction and manner of attachment of thetop and bottom trim bracket mounting clips 48. This clip is mountable atthe tops and hottoms of the vertical panels, each clip engaging a pairof panels 18 at the contacting edges thereof. The mounting clip 48preferably comprises a sheet formed to U-shape in cross section, thedistance between the outside surfaces 48a of the U arms beingessentially equal to the distance from the inside faces of the inturnedlips 20 and 20a to the rear faces of the panel sheets 18a. A pair ofslots 49 are formed opposite one another in the U arms, preferablycentrally thereof extending from one edge thereof longitudinally of thesheet. The width of the slots 49 is essentially equal to twice thethickness of the panel flanges '19 and 19a whereby to permit engagementthereby of the flanges 19 and 19a of a pair of panels 18 mountedrelative one another on stringers 15 in close contact one with theother. A groove 50 is formed in one U arm 48a of the mounting clip 48intermediate the ends of the slot 49 and extending preferably from theslot to the closed face 51 of the clip 48. This groove may be formed inthe U arm 48a adjacent the open end thereof but is preferably formedadjacent the closed face 51 thereof. A pair of grooves 52 and 53 areformed in the opposite inwardly turned lips 20 and 20a of each verticalpanel and at opposite ends of the panel as best seen in Figs. 2 and 7.The grooves 52 and 53 are formed inwardly a distance from the ends ofthe panels preferably essentially equal to the distance of the head orgroove 50 from the bottom of the slot 49. Bolt hole 54, best seen inFig. 3, is formed in the U arm opposite from that having the groove 50therein, the bolt hole 54 also being formed adjacent the opposite end ofthe clip 48 from that containing said groove 50.

The bottom and top trim brackets (Fig. 3) are essentially congruent incross-sectional structure to the side trim brackets having a mainportion 55 with a slotted bolt hole 56 therein to abut the outer face ofthe mounting clip 48, bolt 57 engaging the bolt holes 54 and 56 to fixthe two parts relative one another. Outwardly angled inner portion 58has inmost portion 59 formed normal to the face 18a of the panels.Outermost portion 60 is also formed normal to the face of the panels andextends inwardly relative thereto.

The bottom trim is also more essentially congruent in cross-sectionalstructure to the side trim having main fiat portion 61 with rearwardlyangled outmost portion 62 of greater length than the outermost portion60 of the trim bracket, triangular inner portion 63 and rearwardlyextending inmost portion 64 engageable with the inmost portion 59 of thetrim bracket by rivet or bolt 65. Rivet or bolt 66 engages the outermostportions 62 and 60 of the trim and trim bracket, respectively.

In assembly and operation, it will be seen that an extraordinarilysimple construction has been provided, exceedingly adjustable and easyto assembly, yet very rugged in construction and attractive inappearance with many desirable features. To assemble, the vertical posts10 are set into whatever mounting surface 67 is to be employed as thebase for the entire advertising panel or sign structure. The stringermounting clips 12 are bolted to the vertical posts 10 at predeterminedintervals, depending upon the predetermined spacing of the panelstilfeners on the rear faces of the panels and, of course, the length ofthe panels themselves. The horizontal stringers 15 are then fastened toshelves 11, the mounting clips. If the panel stilfeners 23 have not beenalready engaged in the plurality of vertical panels, they are quicklyinserted as shown in Fig. 7 and are fixed by the engagement of thegrooves 25 on the inturned lips 20 and 20a on the back of the panels 18and the grooves 26 on the stiffeners themselves. The vertical panels arethen hung by the rearwardly extending depending flanges 27 on thestiffeners 23 over the upwardly extending front faces or edges 15a ofthe horizontal stringers. The panels are thus eminently mountable anddismountable from the horizontal stringers with the outwardly edgedportions 27a of the downwardly extending flanges 27 facilitating themounting process, but not endangering the stable mounting of the panelsupon the stringers. The ribs 22 and grooves 21 on each panel interengagewith the rips and grooves of the adjacent panels to form an essentiallysolid structure. When the vertical panels have been all mounted on thehorizontal stringers working from either end to the other, the side trimpieces 33 are bolted in abut ment with the outermost individual panelsand the trim brackets 36 attached thereto by bolts 38. Top and bottommounting clips 48 are slid into place engaging adjacent interengagedpanel edges or flanges 19 and 19a. The groove 50 in each of the clips 48engages the mating groove 52 or 53 in one of the adjacent inturned lips20 or 20a of the panels. Once the mounting clips 48 have been engaged,the trim brackets 55 may be bolted thereto. The upper and lower trimbrackets are adjusted by slots 56 to define the proper relationship ofthe trim to the advertising panels. The top and bottom trim 61 is thenfixed to the upper and lower trim brackets 55 as previously described.

To disassemble the sign, the foregoing order of assembly is merelyreversed. Thus, first, the trim is unbolted or removed from the trimbrackets, the trim brackets are removed from the mounting clips, the topand bottom mounting clips are merely pulled off, while the side mountingclips are unbolted. The vertical panels may then be individually liftedoff the stringers, starting from either outside end and disengaging thegrooves and ribs of adjacent panels. Once the panels have been removed,the horizontal stringers are unbolted from their mounting brackets andremoved, the mounting brackets themselves loosened and unbolted from thevertical post and then the vertical posts may be taken down. Thus, thesign may be assembled or disassembled at will, with very high speed andwith great convenience without any particular training of the workersbeing required.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth,together with other advantages Inasmuch as many possible embodiments maybe made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sign construction comprising a plurality of essentially horizontalstringers vertically spaced one from the other, means for mounting saidstringers in said vertically spaced position, a plurality of essentiallyvertically oriented elongate panels removably mounted on said stringers,each of said panels comprising a sheet having a pair of rearwardlyextending flanges along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, aplurality of essentially horizontal panel stiffeners mounted on the rearface of each of the vertical panels, said panel stiffeners comprisingmembers extending flange to flange on the backs of said panels, meansfor removably mounting said panels on said stringers comprising at leasttwo hook members each attached to a separate stiffener on the rear faceof each panel, said hook members and stiffeners vertically spaced fromone another on each said panel a distance at least substantially equalto the vertical spacing of two of said stringers and said hook membersso formed as to removably fit over said stringers.

2. A sign construction comprising a plurality of essentially horizontalstringers vertically spaced one from the other, means for mounting saidstringers in said vertically spaced position, a plurality of essentiallyvertically oriented elongate panels removably mounted on said stringers,each of said panels comprising a vertically elongated sheet having apair of rearwardly extending flanges along the opposite longitudinaledges thereof, both of said flanges having inturned lips along therearmost edges thereof, a plurality of essentially horizontal panelstifleners mounted on the rear face of each of the vertical panels, saidpanel stiffeners comprising members extending flange to flange on thebacks of said panels, fitting under the inturned lips and fixed theretoagainst vertical motion, means for removably mounting said panels onsaid stringers comprising at least two hook members, each said hookmember attached to a panel stiffener on the rear face of each panel,said hook members and stiffeners spaced vertically from one another oneach said panel a distance substantially equal to the vertical spacingof two of said stringers and said hook members so formed as to removablyfit thereover.

3. A sign construction as in claim 2 wherein pairs of 8 mating groovesare formed in the inturned lips of the panels and the outer faces :ofthe panel stififeners whereby to removably fix said panel stiifeners onthe backs of said panels against vertical motion.

4. An advertising panel as in claim 2 wherein said panel stiffeners areU-shaped in cross section, the base of'the U being positioned away fromthe rear face of'the panel.

5. A sign construction as in claim 2 wherein said panel stiffeners areU-shaped in cross section, the closed end of the U spaced outwardly fromthe rear face of the panel, and the free edges of the U are outwardlyturned to form a base which contacts and lies against the rear panelface.

6. A sign construction comprising a plurality of essentially horizontalstringers vertically spaced one from the other, means for mounting saidstringers in said vertically spaced position, a plurality of essentiallyvertically oriented elongate panels removably mounted on said stringers,means for removably mounting said panels on said stringers, the verticalpanels all being of a length at least slightly greater than the distancebetween the uppermost and lowermost stringers, means mounted on the topsand bottoms of adjacent panels for the holding together of said panels,said panels comprising vertically elongated sheets each having a pair ofrearwardly extending flanges along the opposite longitudinal edgesthereof, each said flange having an inturned lip along the rearmost edgethereof, said means mounted on the tops and bottoms of said panelsaiding also in positioning trim around the periphery of said panels andcomprising a sheet U-shaped in cross section, the distance between theoutside surfaces of the arms of the U being at least substantially equalto the distance from the inside face of the inturned lips of the flangesto the rear face of said panels, a pair of slots being formed oppositeone another in the U' arms extending from one edge thereof, the width ofsaid slots being at least equal to twice the thickness of the rearwardlyextending flanges of said panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS957,259 Ruby May 10, 1910 1,742,667 Purdy Jan. 7, 1930 1,745,987 EllisFeb. 4, 1930 1,853,141 Overholtz Apr. 12, 1932 1,853,143 Overholtz Apr.12, 1932 1,860,919 Ansel May 31, 1932 2,194,367 Petzold Mar. 19, 19402,205,818 Lane June 25, 1940 2,775,833 Wishart Jan. 1, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 339,810 Great Britain Dec. 18, 1930

